8/12/2015

I can't believe I'm saying this, but this place may actually beat out the Korean fried chicken joints in LA!?

My good friend from grad school and I came here after we found it listed in Lonelyplanet. Now that we're both locals, we wanted to see what all the fuss was about with this Korean chicken place.

When I first walked in, I didn't see a single Asian worker behind the counter or kitchen, and I immediately got skeptical. Thank goodness the lines and smell kept me patiently waiting for my order, because these chicken wings were AH-MAZING!

I ordered the 5 Crisp BBQ Jumbo Wings for $9. At first I thought it was a bit pricy for just five wings, until they came out, and I was like... eff. These wings were HUGE. They were not kidding about the size of these babies. The Crisp BBQ style was smoky, sweet, and delicious. Chicken was tender and had great flavor! Seriously, some of the best I've had.

A few rules to keep in mind:
- Always order BONE-IN. It's just not as good when it's boneless.
- Drown your food in the Atomic sauce. It's not spicy, it's just freaking "out of this world" GOOD.

Crisp is absolutely worth the wait and money spent.

• 

  The CRACK Sauce

  The CRACK Sauce
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  BBQ Chicken Wings

  BBQ Chicken Wings

8/12/2015

When my girlfriend and I purchased 10 wings and fries to split we were hoping to just get a taste of what Crisp has to offer, little did we know we would leave stuffed full of amazing flavor.

The wings were simply amazing, fried crispy yet wasn't dry, I literally ate off every part of the chicken wing. We both love spicy foods so we went with the buffalo spicy which was had so much flavor and spice. We simply had no complaints. this place just might have the best wings in Chicago.

I know some may complain about the seating, we had to wait about 15 mins before a table opened up but the food was so delicious that we didn't even mind

8/10/2015

This was the best Korean chicken wing place I've ever had in my life, and I come from a household where my grandma cooks traditional Korean food all the time. The prices may seem a little high but once you see & taste the wings you begin to understand why. They are HUGE and are fried to a crisp. I love my wings crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and that's exactly how they were cooked.

My 3 friends & I shared 10 wings of the Crisp BBQ, 10 wings of the Seoul Sassy, and 1 Rice bowl. I personally loved the Crisp BBQ the best, it's just a unique flavor I haven't had at any other place. The bowl was disappointing. While it was filled with vegetables, they just tasted bland. We couldn't finish everything, it was just too much food. I would definitely come back for the wings!

• 

  crisp BBQ wings!

  crisp BBQ wings!

8/10/2015

Alright, Crisp, you win my vote for best wings in the city. I thought Birds Nest was as good as it gets, but you've got them beat.

I made the mistake of getting 10 full wings, having my girlfriend do the same. MORE than enough (granted I still went through at least 10, she could barely finish the fifth). The wings were....crispy, not dried out, packed with flavor. The skin was so freaking tasty that I caught myself eating the winglett a few times.

As for the sauce, I hear you're either on team Crisp BBQ or Seoul Sassy...loved them both. Seoul Sassy was really awesome, not too much sauce needed for the wing but packed a really great flavor. Crisp BBQ was a little saucier, really good, tangy bbq sauce.

The shop is small, tough to get a table inside, but if you wait around for a little bit seats should open up.

Overall, I'm coming back as soon as I need a wing fix.

7/12/2015

Crisp BBQ sauce: 3.5
Sassy Seoul: 4

The chicken with crisp BBQ sauce was good but the chili flavor from the sriracha seasoning overwhelmed the delicate sweetness of the meat.

The sassy Seoul was the bomb . The crispiness is a deeper grilled crispiness than achieved with a flash fry, and the sweet caramalized sugars in the honey elevated it to unreal realms.

But it was not perfect, a little too overdone and tough on the breast meat pieces. Also, after a while, teeth get rather

Fried so deliciously done we didn't have space for sides.

I do slightly prefer the Southern style of extremely crisp skin, and soft and juicy insides.

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  Crisp bbq sauce vs sassy seoul

  Crisp bbq sauce vs sassy seoul

7/13/2015

My friend Cindy W is going to debate me on this one, but I still prefer Cafe Orient 33 wings through and through. They make be less crispy, but the flavor is better and the environment much nicer.

I tried both the Seoul Sassy and the BBQ (got a whole chicken, with half and half). The two sauces were actually very similar in taste, but I did prefer the Seoul Sassy because it wasn't as sweet and overpowering. The breast pieces and the ends of the wings were too dry. If I come here again, I think I will just get the 5 piece wings, instead of a half chicken. Still all in all, these are very good wings, and I would have given it 4 stars if I was only rating the food.

Tiny amount of seating available, and the napkins leave a lot to be desired... c'mon now, school cafeteria style brown paper towels?!?!

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  Whole chicken. Half bbq. Half sassy seoul

  Whole chicken. Half bbq. Half sassy seoul

6/29/2015

My sister send me a link for Crisp @ 2940 N Broadway.  After I looked at it on Yelp and saw the pictures of their wings & read a few of the reviews I knew I had to try their chicken wings.  It reminded me of the chicken wings I had in the Philippines at a place called "Bon Chon" in "The Mall of Asia".  We ate there and I have been trying to find a place in the U.S. that had wings like "Bon Chon". My friend moved back to the Philippines and he told me there is a Bon Chon in New York City.

I Yelped Bon Chon in Chicago to see if they might have a restaurant here.  Instead of Bon Chon coming up "CRISP" came up.  I'm amazed that CRISP has been around for 7 years and today is the first time I have been there.  The wings are amazingly similar to Bon Chon and just as delicious.  If you haven't tried them and you enjoy eating great food you need to haul your buttocks (AKA Yo Ass) down to Bon Chon and try the wings.  

My sister and I ordered a 10 piece order with 2 different types of chicken wings.  5 pieces of the Seoul Sassy.  This was a blend of ginger, garlic, soy, green onions & other spices. (Absolutely delicious). The other 5 were Crispy barbecue with a blend of American fusion barbecue sauce, a blend of spicy, sweet, prepared with fresh herbs & spices.   They also had a variety of condiments like Alison's Atomic Sauce (ancient family secret).  Gotta try this on your wings

There are all sorts of other dishes on the menu which means I will definitely be going back to try them

• 

  Allison's Atomic Sauce (delicious).

  Allison's Atomic Sauce (delicious).
• 

  Ahhhh I'm drooling looking at this picture.

  Ahhhh I'm drooling looking at this picture.
• 

  The guys @ Crisp. We tried to get the secret of Alison's Atomic Sauce, but they wouldn't budge

  The guys @ Crisp. We tried to get the secret of Alison's Atomic Sauce, but they wouldn't budge
• See all photos from Phil S. for Crisp

7/29/2015

This place is pretty good, and holy moley, do they load you up with wings!  I ordered a set of 10 full wings (meaning they don't separate the drumette from the wing), but I got stuffed after getting halfway through to my surprise, only to realize that I still had 10 full wings left.  They had given me 20, which in regular wing language at most places means I got 40 wings for $16.99.  I told them about it, but they didn't believe me!  I need to step up my wing eating game, apparently.  Of note, there were no visible Koreans working there, but the sauce was pretty good, and the wings did have a nice little crisp to them.  Kudos.  I've been perfecting my own recipe for a while, and their recipe was pretty tight.  Community seating, street metered parking, friendly service, yummy drink options.

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  Wings!

  Wings!

5/31/2015

4 stars for taste, value, fast and efficient service, and location!

I had their Seoul bowl, which was super tasty and very filling.  The meat was tender and had lots of flavor.  

The boyf had the boneless wings and those were amazingly yummy.  Must have for sure.  Next time I come back, I will try their chicken waaaangs!

Must try:  wings and their atomic sauce.

• 

  Seoul bowl $9

  Seoul bowl $9
• 
• 

6/29/2015

Really good crispy chicken I guess they pressure cook it and then deep fry and cover it in there sauces. The condiments they have are great. Especially the pink sauce.

• 
• 

  Mystery sauce. Anyone know what magic is in here?

  Mystery sauce. Anyone know what magic is in here?
• 

  Delicious

  Delicious
• See all photos from Susan S. for Crisp

5/20/2015

Hands down best Korean fried chicken place I've been to! Their wings really are the WHOLE wing so keep that in mind when you're ordering.

We got a mix of both flavors but I definitely liked the Seoul Sassy flavor more than the Crisp BBQ. I would say that the Crisp BBQ flavor has a hint of gochuchang flavor in it. The half order with 10 wings is a generous portion for 2 people.

Definitely a must try if you're visiting Chicago!

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  Half and half of each flavor

  Half and half of each flavor

7/15/2015

We came here late at night on a Saturday and got really fast service. The food was also really good.

We had the whole jumbo wings, and no kidding they were whole with all three parts of the wing and really big. The crisp BBQ flavor was a very good balance between sweet, savory, and spicy. I'd highly recommend!

We also ordered some of the bowls, and this is where I wish they could do a little differently. Essentially they have either the steak / chicken bowl which is all meat and rice, or the buddha bowls that is all vegetables and rice. I really wish they could make a mixed bowl where you get both meat and vegetables..... since we went with four people we were able to just order one of each bowl and mix the meat & veggies, but if I was with just myself or people who just wanted the chicken it would be a difficult situation.

7/8/2015

Let me start off by saying I do not regret my decision to try CRISP!
Of course I tried the wings. The Seoul sassy wings are sooo TASTY!! The wings are served whole (pretty big) so you can get five for about $9. Yes, that does seem a little expensive at first, but, they are WHOLE wings. You are basically ordering ten.
Anyways, the side of rice was the perfect compliment to the savory and flavorful wings.
The place is small and you order at the counter. After you take a seat (very limited) they bring you your food.
There are plenty of other things I want to try! Everything that came out of the kitchen looked delicious and I look forward to coming back!

• 

  Seoul sassy chicken wings (left) and buffalo spicy wings (right) yummy!!

  Seoul sassy chicken wings (left) and buffalo spicy wings (right) yummy!!

6/25/2015

Must Order: buddha bowl with just veggies or +beef

This was on my list of places across the US and I'm so glad we were able to have this delivered during our business meeting! Since I've been eating much smaller portions of meals (multiple times a day), I settled for a baby buddha bowl.

I loved that the portion was still pretty big considering I had basically a mini bowl. Pour in some gochujang sauce and mix up the veggies and fried egg and you have a delicious bibimbap! It was so tasty that I kept raving about it during our lunch break. I also got the chance to try a co-worker's beef in their bowl and thought it was also really good. So if you're feeling more carnivorous then I would recommend adding the beef!

If you enjoy Korean bibimbap, this is definitely a great option!

8/5/2015

Came in here a little while ago, I'm a little behind on my reviews but let's get to it. The wings here are awesome. Very flavorful with a nice sweet kick to them and even though the sauce is wet the wings still maintain a solid crunch to them. We also got the Buddha bowl with a bajillion veggies in them which was really really good. All in all this place is a very good spot if you're craving a different take on wings and if you're in the mood for some good Korean food.

5/2/2015

Two of my friends recommended this place and I was curious to see if their comments were similar to the reviews on Yelp... I must say this place deserves their 4 stars.

My friends told me how huge their wings were and I was completely skeptical. I did not believe their wings were gargantuan. But I took it into consideration when ordering. With that being said, I ordered the 5 piece chicken wings with Crisp BBQ sauce and a side of rice.

As soon as I received my platter, I believed my friends when they said the portions are huge. As with the portion being huge, the wings were pretty severely delicious. The crisp BBQ had a nice sweet, tangy, and spicy kick to it. Every bite was orgasm in my mouth. The rice had sesame seeds sprinkled on top and was really soft which complimented the wings. I will definitely be back to try the other sauces.

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  Crisp BBQ and white rice. With a cutie in the corner.

  Crisp BBQ and white rice. With a cutie in the corner.

7/3/2015

Oh man, this place is so, so good.  You know how usually when you get wings, you either get drums or flats?  They don't break up the wings here, so you get both drum/ flat in one and they are HUGE AND DELICIOUS.  My favorite is the Seoul Sassy (a MUST GET) but BBQ is good too, and the Buddha bowls are A+.  I go here at least once a month, I love it so much!

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  It you asked me to decide between Seoul Sassy wings and my family, I'd have to think about it for a minute.

  It you asked me to decide between Seoul Sassy wings and my family, I'd have to think about it for a minute.
• 

  Seoul Sassy on the left, Korean BBQ on the right. We got ten wings and they were so big that the two of us couldn't finish them.

  Seoul Sassy on the left, Korean BBQ on the right. We got ten wings and they were so big that the two of us couldn't finish them.

3/23/2015

Crisp is a communal seating area where you would order food at the register and then get the number and sit anywhere you like. The seats are like picnic tables and if it is crowded, you might be sitting really close to strangers.

My friend and I shared the 10 piece chicken wings (whole jumbo wings) in Crisp BBQ sauce and fries. 10 wings were more than enough for the two of us. I think I ate like three and was more than full! They really are jumbo sized. The fries were mediocre, nothing special. I would pass on the fries and try something else. The wings were pretty darn yummy and fried to perfection!

I would definitely come back to try the other items like the Buddha bowl and burritos.

6/30/2015

We were strolling around Chicago and came upon crisp and saw it had a decent crowd and figured it had to be good. We ordered wings and fried chicken and a side of onion rings.

The place is first come first serve searing after you order at the counter. Our food came promptly and it was hot. Every table had a whole roll of paper towel and some extra dressings. Our food was delicious, fresh, and the sauces on the chicken were very tasty. Good fast and tasty option for a quick and filling meal.

6/2/2015

Once upon a time, three girls trekked through the windy and rainy streets of Chicago on Memorial day in search of the most talked about chicken wings in all of the land. When they finally reached the orange Crisp awning, they were saddened by the fact that it was CLOSED! The next day they took the train over with the hope that it would be open and low and behold -- IT WAS and they lived happily ever after...

Y'all, I can't tell you how happy I was to be able to try the deliciousness that were the CRISP wings. As a self-proclaimed chicken wing enthusiast, I would have to say the Seoul Sassy wings are some of the best chicken wings I have ever had. Maybe it was the sweet, salty, umami vibe I was getting from them or maybe it was the adrenaline rush from trying to find a seat in the tiny restaurant, but the overall experience eating at Crisp was fun, enjoyable, and exciting.

The guys behind the counter were very friendly and helpful when it came to showing us noobs what to order. We also got the fries and I would say they were okay - maybe equivalent to Mickey D's on a good day. There appeared to be street parking outside and the restaurant itself is maybe a 15-20 minute walk from the train station. I would highly recommend this place to any visiting Chi-town. It's definitely on my list of "to-go" places the next time I'm back.

8/1/2015

I ordered the 6 piece boneless wings - half Seoul sassy and half suicide buffalo. Seoul sassy had a sweet flavor almost like empress chicken from a Chinese place. Suicide was the type of hot I like but not unbearable to eat - yet at the same time I was sweating a little (I agree it's gross to sweat when you eat), and comes with jalepenos (or some hot pepper) that was tough on my stomach. Don't be mistaken by the "6 piece" it was enough food for 2-3 people.

Normally I don't like to get wings take-out because they become soggy but these were still hot and crispy (we do live close...)

My gf ordered the baby Buddha bowl with beef. From what I tried I liked - she's picky and wasn't a huge fan.

Going with a 5 for the online ordering, wings, and service.

8/7/2015

Came here with a group of hungry boys so we ordered 2 whole chickens, one was Seoul sassy and the other crisp bbq, as well as a side of kimchi. I think we were split half and half on who preferred either flavor, but both were really good and very different than your traditional chicken wing. The kimchi was good but basically just like your standard kimchi, nothing particularly special, not too salty and not to sour. My main problem with this place was just the seating arrangement was very awkward and crammed. There wasn't enough space for people to stand, let alone sit, even though this is food that you kind of need to sit next to the people your eating with. The large cafeteria tables were very crammed together and packed, but I guess I went around dinner time on a Sunday. Maybe try to get delivery instead if it's going to be a popular time. We also felt like none of us were full off of the chicken, even though we got 2 whole chickens for 4 people. Maybe we're just hungry and have huge appetites, but that might be something to consider. If I hadn't been here with a group, I personally would've gone for the Buddha bowl, they looked really good! I would consider coming back to try their other food because it all looked pretty good.

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  Seoul sassy and crisp bbq whole chickens

  Seoul sassy and crisp bbq whole chickens

5/5/2015

I can't believe it took me this long to discover the wonder that is Crisp! This place was on my radar for awhile, and the wait was well worth it! The food was fresh and delicious. I ordered the Foodie's Choice Chicken Sandwich (no blue cheese, not a fan) with the crisp BBQ sauce = DIVINE! The sauce put a delicious, spicy, Korean spin on traditional fried chicken. The freshness of the spinach and tomato combined with the bevy of sauces aboard this beauty made for a delicious sandwich.

The atomic sauce was also a standout and I found myself eating more fries just so I could have more of this sauce!

I had a tough time deciding here - chicken sandwich or chicken wings? I wasn't disappointed with my sandwich, but I'll be back to try those wings sometime soon!

2/2/2015

I'm giving this place 5 stars because it's one of the few places I always go to when I'm in town. Although it can get really busy at times, it's worth the wait.

These finger-licking good wings are huge, and is always made fresh to order. I tried it all, but the Seoul Sassy, which is sweet and savory, is my favorite.

• 

  Seoul Sassy

  Seoul Sassy

7/22/2015

I'm so disappointed to share this, especially because I've been noshing on Crisp's deliciousness since 2007 but this tragedy cannot be ignored.  My BF chose this joint recently for a low key lunch with friends for his birthday on Sunday afternoon.  The place was busy as usual but we were excited to introduce 3 of our friends to Crisp.  Everyone ordered and the wait wasn't to unbearable even though we couldn't all sit together. With happy, full tummys we packed up the remaining food to go and were on our way.  When the BF went to reheat and eat, he found this little guy in his Buddha Bowl. Not cool, very disgusting, & unfortunate that Crisp's kitchen is this dirty. Clean it up Crisp, clean it up.  You just lost some loyal customers!

• 

  Bug in the Buddha Bowl, EW!

  Bug in the Buddha Bowl, EW!

1/5/2015

Dear Crisp, You have ruined me for other wings.

These giant (and, yes, crispy!) wings should be enjoyed with the BBQ sauce. This ain't no mamby pamby BBQ sauce. It's sweet and spicy and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. The flavor is so delicious that the most delicate of eater would lick their fingers clean rather than sacrifice a drop more than necessary to one of the many, many napkins you will use.

Pros: The wings, duh! But it's also BYOB. So bring in your fave brew to enjoy those mouth watering wings. The fries are also lovely.

Cons: It's tiny. We went fairly early and could still only get a seat at one of the counters, which was fine and we were grateful for it. But if you want a seat at a table, I don't know - you might have to get there when it opens or something. So limited seating. Also, super crowded. The lines to order will wrap throughout. Don't expect any elbow room.

Crisp, my love, I will be back. I have heard great things about Sassy and must find out if they are indeed true.

• 
• 

  BBQ & Plain Jane

  BBQ & Plain Jane

8/9/2015

This is a Beyond excellent place to eat, the food is good, and the staff is fun and nice too. My only complaint is the space, the place is too confined, other than that it's a must eat for anyone in Chicago.

6/11/2015

Spent a week in Chicago for the first time in May and as far as food goes this was the best place I tried.  I debated between one of the bowls and the wings but ended up trying the wings.  They were huge and very flavorful!  

Definitely hope to make it back someday. :)

• 

  Chicken Wings!

  Chicken Wings!
• 

  Outside of restaurant

  Outside of restaurant

5/19/2015

Have heard so much about this for so LONG and I finally was in the area and decided to check it out!!! Bibimbap is amazing with the sauce (whatever it is).  You can tell the veggies are fresh (huge plus). The rice was so delicious and sticky (the way it should be)!

I also decided to get  a half order of the Seoul sassy and it was such a generous portion!! Such great sweet flavor!

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  First timer: If this is what it looks like in takeout...imagine the presentation at the restaurant :)

  First timer: If this is what it looks like in takeout...imagine the presentation at the restaurant :)

11/29/2014

Korean fried chicken wings are the best. The sauce is so delicious here. The chicken is also cooked to perfection and the portions are large. The bowls also looked pretty good, but I've only gotten the chicken wings here.

The place is a little small so if you're eating in (and it's busy) you might have to wait for a table. In addition the tables are long picnic tables, so unless you have a big group, you're probably sharing with a few other people.

They also offer free green tea tea packets for free and hot water.

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  5 wings!

  5 wings!

7/13/2015

It's the first place I take people too when they visit. I really like their chicken wings, Team Seoul Sassy all the way!

While I enjoy how small the place is (super cozy, makes it mostly awesome) sometimes there are just super douchebags at the tables and they don't leave. The last time I was in there was this group of people drinking at one of the tables (they brought their own hard alcohol) and they were insanely loud, really rude, and generally unpleasant. Meeh.

Anyway, if you can get it to go, this place is the best!

4/16/2015

Crisp is a revelation in the world of Chicken wings.  5 wings there is 10 anywhere else because you get the whole wing, flapper and drum!

My favorite flavors and the BBQ and Seoul Sassy, such flavor you will never forget it!

BYOB too, but they also sell cans,

Be forewarned, its a VERY small place, so be prepared to wait for a seat

• 

  Soul Sassy and Spicy Buffalo wings

  Soul Sassy and Spicy Buffalo wings

7/16/2015

It's my first time having korean chicken wings ever and those wings by CRISP are something I would knee for. There were a few flavors of sauces on the list but my friend and I picked the first two with the "stars" next to them (believed that they were recommended). As flavorful as it looks! This place is a must-go.

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  Two kinds of chicken wings with two different sauces (I don't remember the names but they're the top two of the sauce list.)

  Two kinds of chicken wings with two different sauces (I don't remember the names but they're the top two of the sauce list.)

11/13/2014

Finger-licking, savory Korean fusion food!

Warning: if you come during busy hours, be prepared to scavenge for seating. This is a tiny establishment, but it's worth it for the nomz.

This place is known for their flavorful wings and tasty bibimbap bowls. My friends and I ordered the Seoul sassy wings, crisp BBQ chicken tenders, and a chicken bad boy buddha bowl... I'm drooling just typing this again! This was so tasty and I'm so glad we shared several dishes! I don't know how I could decide if it was just myself. Also I drizzled their atomic and buddha sauce as a compliment to the already great flavors. I wish I could just bottle a mix of the two sauces and take it home with me! Buddha bowl was good but the star of the meal was obviously the wings.

Definitely come here for some atypical yet mind blowing flavors, but be mindful of the limited seating.

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  Big boy buddha bowl with chicken, Seoul sassy chicken wings and crisp BBQ chicken tenders.

  Big boy buddha bowl with chicken, Seoul sassy chicken wings and crisp BBQ chicken tenders.

7/29/2015

They are a little pricey but COMPLETELY WORTH IT. Both the flavors and the portions are big. I'm a huge wing person and I must say.... Over every other wing place THIS PLACE IS NOW MY GO TO!!

5/26/2015

I lived in Korea for my all life before moving to Chicago last year. And there is no doubt that I love Korean food. I always went to look for good Korean spots in Chicago but it hasn't really been successful. Crisp, on the other hand, was one of the places that I told my friends about. There are a lot of Korean restaurants in Chicago but Crisp is definitely one of the restaurants where you should visit in Chicago.

Their menu is very simple yet interesting. There are two big parts of their menu, one is Korean-style fried chicken and the another is Bibimbap(Korean traditional rice dish where they put rice and various vegetables, beef, fried egg and Korean chilly paste called Gochujang). For fried chicken, they have different sauces than what you usually get from regular chicken wing places in America. Seoul Sassy is soy sauce based sauce which tastes very similar to what you actually get at fried chicken restaurants in Korea. Grandma's sauce is basically sweet chilly sauce which also is very similar to how it is in Korea. Fun thing about their Bibimbap is that they named it Buddha bowl. Also, they have 3 different size which offers different kinds and numbers of vegetables. For your choice of protein, they offer tofu, beef, and chicken. I really recommend you to try it with beef while it's how normally we eat in Korea, but my friend who went there with me was vegetarian so he just ate it with no protein. He still told me it was best food he had in a while! I liked the food overall because it's still very authentic but at the same time they adapted Korean food to American taste. It has more of sweetness and saltines and it was definately less spicy. So I think Crisp good for someone who is not ready to get very exotic but still wants to try something different. It will be worth trying!

Besides food, there were bad parts as they had good parts. I realized that the size of restaurant was little small for amount of people who were visiting. It was Thursday afternoon when I visited, but the restaurant was full of people and there were many people who were taking food for carry out. It would have been nicer if the space was little bigger. Although people working there were very friendly and nice, the restaurant didn't have any feeling of Korea. Since I am very interested in spreading Korean culture to the world, I'd expect such a good Korean fusion restaurant to show that their food is based on Korean food so that people can feel friendly about Korean food in the future. Maybe they could put more décor like Korean flag that shows it's a Korean restaurant or hang pictures of Korea with Korean letters!

Overall, I really liked that they had simple but good menu, and good sense of Korean flavors into it. For people who hasn't tried this place yet, I recommend you to try this spot to taste new sauces on fried chicken and I assure that their Buddha bowls will please you with new flavors and healthy balance!

7/27/2015

I came here every time I visited my brotha in Chicago! It was just some tasty chicken wings and great Buddha bowl (big portion, too!!).  Price is very reasonable! The restaurant is small and seating is kinda of limited, but we never had to wait to long to get the table! See you next time when I'm in town! Yum!!

5/29/2015

Someone I met told me I should try Crisp because they have the best wings in Chicago. I love fried chicken and the saucier they are the better. I listened and convinced my wife to go to diner here one day. This place does not disappoint. My wife is not much of a BBQ sauce person, but their BBQ wings she can not resist. Best wings I have ever tried.

If you are in the area you have to try Crisp. If you are not in the area, you have to take a trip so that you can try Crisp!!!

7/9/2015

Love ordering their whole chicken deal on days I don't feel like cooking dinner!!!! Very fast delivery and super reasonable prices.

My only problem with Crisp is the ordering process. I always order by phone, and IF someone picks up the phone, I'm put on hold immediately. Most of the time there's a busy signal and the call won't even go through.

But the chicken is so good, I keep coming back.

6/11/2015

Best wings you'll ever eat in Chicago.

Usually service is super nice, too. Today is the one exception.

I placed an online order to make sure my food was ready by the time I got there. As I paid, I asked my future husband if he still wanted to eat it there because it looked crowded. The cashier said with an attitude, "We tell people we don't take reservations, so for you to place an order online and then sit here and eat it is very rude to the other diners here." I looked at Mike and said, "Well, guess we paid to park for nothing... Alright, thanks man."

So, we left. I have no problem with the cashier saying it's against policy to place a to go order and eat it there. We'd actually done it twice before and were never told otherwise. But he didn't have to accuse us of being line jumpers. It's rude to others? The people behind us who were about to order would have to wait a good 15 minutes to get their food. By that time, we would have been licking our fingers and tossing the bones out. And we certainly wouldn't have been taking up any space after that.

I will come back to Crisp because this is really the only time I had a problem here. But I think if this had been my first experience, I would have really been pissed and given it a bad review. I hope management sees this and tells their employees to explain things without being rude.

2/6/2015 Updated review

Stopped into this restaurant yesterday for my usual Chicken Strip Meal.  I had a craving for this meal.  I have been going to this restaurant for the last three years, however, after the experience I saw yesterday, I will NEVER return.  VERY UNSANITARY.  

After placing my order with the gentleman at the counter, I sat down until my order was ready.  While sitting there, the counter person started to eat behind the counter then proceeded to place foil liners into to to boxes without washing his hands.  Again very unsanitary.  The worst thing is, he kept looking me while he was placing the liners in to the boxes.  

When I asked my for money back and asked for the phone number for the owner, he was so smug about it.  An email will be sent to the owner about the situation.

There are to many great restaurants in the neighborhood.

7/19/2015

The steak bimibap was delicious! However the lower rating comes partially from their selection of bibimbap bowls. The only bowl with meat did not have veggies, while their veggie bowls did not offer meat (besides the egg). I split two different bowls with friends and got a balanced meal, but it would have been nice to have the option of having both meat and vegetables in one bowl. Second, while the meal was very good, I was SO thirsty afterwards. High sodium? Perhaps. Not sure if I will be visiting again for that last reason.

7/1/2015

One of my favorite places in Chicago. 5 Seoul Sassy wings plus a Bad Boy Buddha is our go to combo for two and covers all the major food groups :)

Also their fried mushrooms are amazing! My only complaint is that it's so hard to find seating. Open up another location, please!

6/23/2015

The best wings I've ever had in my life. I will never be able to go back to Buffalo Wild Wings. I could bathe in the Seoul sauce. I luv u crisp.

4/12/2015

The Spread: We ordered the half chicken, Crisp BBQ style, kimchi (duh, I can never resist when it's on the menu,) and Marty's Magic Mushrooms. The chicken was perfect just the way it was served: CRISP! And the BBQ sauce offered a nice combo of sweet and heat. Not sure what makes the mushrooms magic? To us they were just eh... fried mushrooms, IMO. But thumbs up to the Sriracha mayo dipping sauce that came on the side.  

The Scene: BYOB, bustling, bright with communal picnic-style tables.

The Service: Staff was kind enough to let us know that the kitchen was going to close in 5 minutes, so we got our order in just in time. When it was ready, the guy at the counter announced it as "last but not least" and gave us a big smile. :)

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  Crisp BBQ half chicken, side of kimchi

  Crisp BBQ half chicken, side of kimchi

2/19/2015

Oh Crisp, how I've missed amazing Korean chicken wings that just blow the competition right out of the water.

The wings are the most awesome thing here. They are huge to the point where eating 2 will make you full! My favorite is actually the Crisp BBQ for its smokey but sweet flavor. The Seoul sassy is more sweet and tangy so it's something I have to be in the mood for. Buffalo is pretty good too! I really do not think it's too pricey considering the jumbo size of the wings!

Fries - The small is big enough to feed two people. By itself, there's hardly any seasoning on the fries but the dark red sauce they have on the table is the most amazing substitute for ketchup (but they have ketchup too). The red sauce is like a sweeter, less spicier version of gochujang which makes it not spicy at all for me actually. But the dark red sauce, whatever it is, is still mm mm yummy!

Note: Pretty small interior with limited seating, especially because it's so popular here. Consider placing an online/phone order for takeout which will speed things along...plus you get to eat without people crowding around trying to stalk you for your seat after you leave!

7/30/2015

Man the wings are on fire, the sweet sauce is Amazing,  way better then wing stop. Great fires also. Only down fall is the seating there gets packed and have to wait but worth the wait for the wings. 5 Star's. It gets my Idriz Approval Stamp.

7/30/2015

Chicken wings are great, not my favorite just a bit too crispy. The beef bowl lacks seasonings, very bland & too much rice.

9/2/2014

Mmmm Korean double fried chicken, what's not to like?

The pieces of chicken here are HUGE, we're not talking those little things you get at Buffalo Wild Wings, you'll probably fill up on just a few here.  The chicken is perfectly crispy and flavorful - my favorite is the Seoul Sassy but you can't go wrong with any of their flavors.

The fries are also good, perfectly thin and crispy.

Just like the wings, all their other food portions are huge too.  Great for sharing (especially the massive bibimbap).

The best part is they're BYOB! The restaurant is small, so there might be a line during busy times.  Worth trying though!

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  Fries are so thin and crispy. Perfect!

  Fries are so thin and crispy. Perfect!
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5/20/2015

The wings the wings the wings. What more can I say? Fantastic service, food and music. Wow! Amazing! Awesome! Great! Not enough adjectives lol.

6/19/2015

Overrated!

Yes the sauce is good .. and its real chicken. But how is this place called crisp and the wings aren't crispy??

My expectation was for it to be crispy .. so I think I was just let down by that.

Also, do not get the fries. Frozen fries that you can buy and self-make tastes better or equivalent.

7/29/2015

Not sure how I haven't reviewed Crisp before! Best wings in Chicago. The Seoul Sassy sauce is everything you need and the onion rings are spot on.

4/27/2015

This is the place to go for fried Korean wings! The chickens are on steroid here so portions will be big. I ordered five seoul sassy wings but it looked like I got ten. I had to stop and count to make sure they didn't give me more. It looked a lot because they were just five full wings. The wings were THAT big! They were full of flavor! I would have liked to try the bbq wings also but that would mean I have to order ten wings. Ten wings means another ten pounds to my butt. haha. I got an order of fries as a side but honestly, those five ginormous wings were enough. It was so wasteful to throw away the fries but I couldn't finish them. The atomic and buddah sauces on the table were worth trying. I prefer the atomic sauce with the fries because it was creamy. Dont be alarm, the sauce wasn't that spicy considering the name "atomic" it's tolerable level of spicy. Service was friendly and I would come back next time I'm in town.

2/23/2015

Crisp's Seoul Sassy Korean fried chicken wings is one of my top favorite dishes. The sweet and tangy taste is so unforgettable that I often crave it. The wings are huge; a half portion is large enough to feed at least 2 people. To add some healthy but tasty ingredients to the meal, we'd also order one of the Buddah bowls to accompany the wings.  That way, we have a full meal of chicken, rice and veggies for 2...and sometimes we leave with leftover wings, so we have an incredible lunch the next day.  Highly recommend.

The restaurant is pretty small and can get crowded, so we always opt for an early dinner around 5. Then we walk the neighborhood and grab dessert at one of neighboring dessert shops.

5/17/2015

I was famished so ordered a rice bowl and chicken sandwich.  I loved the rice bowl but for what it's worth, they should make it slightly cheaper.  In NY, they'd include a protein for the price Crisp is charing for.  The sandwich was quite tasty but I didn't like the bun it came in.  All in all, a great choice if you want to eat healthy but be prepared to pay a little more than you're used to for fast food.

2/17/2015

Finally tried this place after being skeptical about another over-hyped Asian place.

Only qualm was that we got delivery using Postmates, in which the fees and delivery was more than what I should have paid for.

Anywho, boo & I each got an original bad boy buddha (bibimbap), one with beef and the other with tofu. We also got a half order of chicken, in seoul sassy and crisp bbq. I liked that they separated the rice and wasn't already mixed in with the bowls. I accidentally ordered organic brown rice for one of the bowls, and boy was it amazing rice, even though it cost more. It was great that all the veggies still tasted fresh and vibrant after waiting roughly an hour for delivery. Boo surprisingly enjoyed the bibimbap, considering he's a burger type of guy. While bibimbaps were good, they weren't outstanding and definitely have had better.

The chicken though is where it's at. Perfectly fried with great crispiness outside without the chicken being dry. The sauces are what impressed me the most. The descriptions really described it perfectly...a little spicy, smoky, sweet, ginger and soy notes. I usually don't care for sweet and am all about the spicy/salty but they really did it right here.

Also feel like Crisp is very good bang for your buck, as you the original Buudha bowl or a half order of chicken is very satisfying for one person and costs right under or at $10. Would love to dine in next time and just go straight for the chicken and skip over the Buddha bowls.

6/18/2014

This place is good. "How good?", you ask. Well, one rainy evening I ordered my 10 wings in Seoul Sassy to-go. Worried that my delicious, crispy, fried chicken wings would get too moist in the carry-out box, I raced down Belmont towards Lake Shore Drive so I could get home ASAP and chow down. Long story short, I made a right turn too quickly and got a red light camera ticket....whatevers, chicken was still crisp and perfect when I got home!

I don't really care for their other flavors and highly recommend Seoul Sassy which is a sweet, soy and garlic sauce. Their rice bowls are huge and tasty. Oh, I love their atomic sauce.

6/11/2015

Best food of our 7 day trip to Chicago!! I want to come back soon jus to eat here!
My husband and I got 10 wings and had plenty to eat.

7/3/2015

This place is awesome. It's fast, friendly, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious. I ordered "5 chicken wings" per the recommendation of the employee, and his choice of sauce as well. I had my food in less than 5 minutes, piping hot and to my delight, generously portioned. The wings are enormous and lightly (but entirely) covered in unique sauces that bounce between sweet and spicy. I had 6 wings in my basket which was a bonus. Awesome spot, definitely will be back. The kim chee was fine.

5/10/2015

Crisp is a must-try for any Chicagoan or out-of-towner who appreciates a memorable meal. I usually call-in my order versus dining in (really small place--always packed) since I live so close, and by the time I get there it's usually just a few minutes of waiting until the order is ready. A lot of people i know who don't like most American-style fried chicken love the texture and flavor of Crisp's chicken. The Seoul Sassy boneless chicken tenders are my go-to order, and the baby Buddha bowl is also a very solid choice--you can add tofu or other meat if you'd like and sub brown rice for white rice if you want, and their kimchi is very fantastic. Their french fries are also really great.

5/10/2015

Perhaps I waited too long to visit, but from the previous reviews, I was guessing that I was in for an ethereal wing experience. This was not that. The wings were tasty but really not crisp and I thought both Seoul Sassy and the BBQ sauces were too sweet. Maybe it was the batch we had (10 wings), but I think not dividing the wings into drums and flats also makes them prone to overcooking.  

This is pretty good fried chicken, but just good and it's really not comparable to Korean fried chicken I've had. If I were to go there, I think I'd have to subtract at least one star because Korean fried chicken this ain't.

1/19/2015

BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVERRR!!! I love bonchon which is a korean chain restaurant of fried chicken BUT this one takes the cake. DELICIOUS!! We got the seoul sassy flavor (MY FAVORITE) and the crisp bbq. I highly recommend the seoul sassy- ON POINT. The wings were super flavorful, tender, and juicy!!! If I come back to chicago I would love to try the other items on the menu but def I'd be back for the wings. There must be crack on it or something because I ate it Friday and I'm still thinking about those delicious wings (it's monday now). 10 wings for around 16.95. WORTH EVERY PENNY.  They're whole wings, so comes with wing and thigh so it's pretty big. I love you crisp and if I lived in chicago I'd eat you everyday.

1/14/2015

It's as good as everyone says. Go there now. Hadn't been in quite some time, but today I was in the area so I popped in for a Not So Common chicken sandwich with Seoul Sassy sauce. Un-effing-real. The thing is HUGE and I'm the kind of person who is only able to eat half of every meal I order, but that thing was devoured in a matter of minutes. How on earth do they make it so damn tasty??? Employees are always very friendly as well. Hats off, Crisp!

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  Just eat it.

  Just eat it.

4/27/2015

There's actually not much to say other than Korean fried chicken. You can't go wrong there. I've been here multiple times and have also gotten the takeout. The seoul sassy sauce is sooo good that I've been hesitant to try anything else though I hear all the other sauces are good as well. When I come with a friend or two, we tend to go for the whole chicken special which is completely worth it. I've also had the buddha bowl here before but it's not that special. If you're going to go to crisp, you really should be getting the fried chicken and nothing else. The space is a little small, so it does get crowded easily but I've never had a problem with it.

2/15/2015

YUMMA!!! Korean fried chicken. Fried chicken and Korean food are among my favorite things to eat-- put these two together and it makes for a VERY happy tummy and an even happier Lissy. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so you'll most likely be sharing a table with another party. The wait is never super bad, though. BYOB or in my case BYOW (wine is life). The chicken wings are ginormous. 5 wings will fill up 2 people with average appetites. These are like the entire wing, people (the drum, the flapper, and the tip)!

I'm a huge fan of the Seoul Sassy. A side of rice costs extra, but I'm asian & I'll eat rice with literally anything, so I'll pay it. Free water from one of those Korean water tanks every Korean family owns. Waitstaff are friendly. I just like being here.

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  Seoul Sassy

  Seoul Sassy

5/2/2015

Am I really adding value to Yelp with this review? With so many raving reviews online, probably not, but how could I pass up reviewing the best chicken wings of my life? Five wings here is more than enough for one grown man -- some people are full by their third one. The wings are huge! We tried the following wings:

BBQ: 5/5 -- Delicious delicious delicious delicious. I could take the sauce alone, pile it on some rice, and have a good meal. Sweet yet super-flavorful. The best of the night.

Buffalo: 5/5 -- Full of spice and full of flavor. What more can you ask for? BBQ was my favorite, but this made that decision very difficult. You cannot leave Crisp without trying both Buffalo and BBQ.

Seoul Sassy: 3.5/5 -- I definitely liked it, but it was nowhere as good as the other two chicken wings. You can't go wrong with this one. But when the other two are just so good, why bother?

The restaurant is located in one of the nicest areas in Chicago. So pretty and nice seating areas for nice days. See myself coming here for a long time forward.

11/16/2014

I was visiting Chicago and decided to check this place out since and it was a pretty far travel but worth it. The Korean style fry chicken was pretty good and very crispy. I would recommend getting the plane Jane and asking for the sauces on the side so you know what you like before getting all the same flavors on the chicken. I would say the sauces are pretty much on the sweet side.

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  Plane Jane Half fried chicken, Plane Jane fried wings, Fried mushrooms, and fries.

  Plane Jane Half fried chicken, Plane Jane fried wings, Fried mushrooms, and fries.